Twenty water professionals from across California have been chosen for the 2026 cohort of the William R. Gianelli Water Leaders, a highly competitive and respected leadership program. … The 2026 cohort will explore ways to find 9 million acre-feet of additional water through conservation, storage and other means by 2040. This goal was part of Senate Bill 72, which was signed into law last October by Gov. Newsom. The bill requires the California Department of Water Resources to quantify water-supply gaps and identify 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040 to offset losses anticipated as the climate continues to warm.